Playable Characters
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Playable characters in Genshin Impact are heroes that players can obtain through Wishes, story progression, events or special rewards. Each character has their own element, weapon type, rarity, abilities and role in a team.
This page is a general catalog of all playable Genshin Impact characters. Here you can quickly find the hero you need and open a detailed guide with the best builds, weapons, artifacts, materials, constellations, teams and gameplay tips.
General information about characters
Playable characters are the foundation of Genshin Impact’s gameplay. They explore the open world, clear domains, fight bosses, take part in events and form combat teams for different types of content.
Each hero is defined by several key features:
- rarity — 4★ or 5★;
- element — Pyro, Hydro, Electro, Cryo, Anemo, Geo or Dendro;
- weapon type — sword, claymore, polearm, bow or catalyst;
- role — Main DPS, Sub DPS, Support, Healer, Shielder, Buffer or Driver;
- mechanics — elemental reactions, buffs, healing, shields, on-field damage or off-field damage.
Building the right team allows players to create powerful elemental reactions, increase overall damage and comfortably complete both story content and difficult combat challenges.
Characters by Rarity
5-Star Characters
5-star characters usually feature unique gameplay mechanics, powerful abilities and high damage potential. Many of them become the core of a team, serving as Main DPS, Sub DPS or versatile support characters for a wide variety of team compositions.
4-Star Characters
4-star characters are easier to obtain and remain highly effective throughout the game. Many of them rank among the strongest units in Genshin Impact thanks to their powerful buffs, healing, shielding or consistent off-field damage.
Characters by Element
Pyro Characters
Pyro characters excel at triggering Vaporize, Melt, Burning and Overloaded reactions. They are often used in teams focused on dealing high elemental damage.
Hydro Characters
Hydro characters are essential for reactions such as Vaporize, Freeze, Bloom and Electro-Charged. Many Hydro heroes provide consistent elemental application and excellent team support.
Electro Characters
Electro characters perform exceptionally well in Aggravate, Hyperbloom, Electro-Charged and Overloaded teams. They can serve as powerful damage dealers, batteries or reliable off-field DPS.
Cryo Characters
Cryo characters are commonly used in Freeze, Melt and Physical damage teams. They provide crowd control, strong Cryo application and excellent synergy with many other elements.
Anemo Characters
Anemo characters specialize in Swirl reactions, crowd control and reducing enemy Elemental RES with artifact sets. They are among the most valuable support characters in the game.
Geo Characters
Geo characters focus on survivability, shields and consistent damage rather than elemental reactions. They are ideal for players who prefer stable and comfortable gameplay.
Dendro Characters
Dendro characters unlock powerful reactions such as Bloom, Hyperbloom, Burgeon, Spread and Aggravate. They play a key role in many of the strongest modern team compositions.
Characters by Weapon
Sword Characters
Sword users are versatile characters with fast attacks, balanced gameplay and flexible roles within a team.
Claymore Characters
Claymore users deal heavy damage, easily break enemy shields and often serve as the team’s primary damage dealer.
Polearm Characters
Polearm users combine quick attacks with powerful Elemental Skills and Elemental Bursts, making them effective in many different team compositions.
Bow Characters
Bow users specialize in ranged combat, aimed shots, exploration and precise damage against enemies from a safe distance.
Catalyst Characters
Catalyst users deal elemental damage with their Normal Attacks, making them excellent reaction enablers, supports or elemental DPS characters.
Characters by Role
Main DPS
Main DPS characters spend most of their time on the battlefield and are responsible for dealing the majority of the team’s damage.
Sub DPS
Sub DPS characters contribute significant damage while spending little time on the field, usually through Elemental Skills or Bursts that continue working after switching characters.
Support
Support characters strengthen the team by providing buffs, energy generation, crowd control, resistance reduction or other useful effects.
Healer
Healers restore HP to the active character or the entire party, greatly improving survivability during difficult battles.
Shielder
Shielders create protective shields that absorb incoming damage and allow teammates to attack without interruption.
Buffer
Buffers increase the damage or combat effectiveness of their teammates by enhancing stats, Elemental Mastery, Attack or other important attributes.
Full List of Playable Characters in Genshin Impact
Below is the complete list of all playable characters in Genshin Impact, arranged in alphabetical order. Click on a character’s name to open their detailed guide.
A
B
D
K
S
How to Choose a Character
When choosing a character, it is important to consider more than just their rarity. A character’s effectiveness depends on the team composition, weapon, artifacts and overall synergy with other party members.
If you are a beginner, it is recommended to prioritize characters who:
- are easy to play;
- do not require limited 5-star weapons;
- perform well at C0;
- fit into many different team compositions;
- help clear story content, bosses and Domains with ease.
Experienced players should focus on team synergy, elemental reactions, energy generation, rotations and each character’s performance in the current version of the game.
FAQ
How many playable characters are there in Genshin Impact?
The number of playable characters continues to grow with every major update. New heroes from different regions are regularly added, each introducing unique mechanics, abilities and playstyles.
Which characters are better: 4-star or 5-star?
Although 5-star characters generally have more powerful abilities and unique mechanics, many 4-star characters remain among the strongest choices in the game. A character’s true strength depends on their build, team composition and proper rotation.
Which characters should beginners build first?
New players should focus on versatile characters that are easy to build and fit into many teams. Healers, shielders and reliable off-field damage dealers are especially valuable during the early stages of the game.
Are Constellations necessary?
No. Most characters perform very well at C0. Constellations usually improve a character’s damage output or quality of life, but they are not required to enjoy or complete the game’s content.
Where can I find character builds?
Every playable character on our website has a dedicated guide featuring recommended builds, weapons, artifacts, ascension materials, talent priorities, constellations, team compositions, rotations and gameplay tips.
Conclusion
Playable characters are the heart of Genshin Impact’s combat system. Every hero offers a unique playstyle, abilities and role within a team. Some specialize in dealing massive damage, while others provide healing, shields, buffs or powerful elemental reactions.
Use this page as your main character directory to quickly find the hero you’re looking for and access a complete guide with everything you need to build and play them effectively.